Workman s time becobdeb



June 3, 1941. FALLER wonmn's TIME nacoansn Filed Jan. 27, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 R O T N E V m ATTORNEY June 3, 1941.

E. A. FALLER mama's TIIE anconnan Filod Jan. 27, 1940 3 Shana-Sheet 3 5 INVENT Patented June 3, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,244,247 woamtssrs run: momma ErnestLFallenBs-ooklymhLYsmtoInternational Insiness mehhes corporation. NewYorLNJsaeorpmtlonoiNewYerk Application January 27, is, Berhl No. 815,855 1 9Clalml.

This invention relates to improvements in time recorders tor recording the time oi the arrival and departure oi each of a number 01 employees and, more particularly, relates to improvements in recorders oi that type wherein each employee is assigned an individual key, which upon being operated at the beginning and end oi a period of time. causes a permanent to be made upon a suitable record sheet.

One object oi the instant invention is the provision of novel means controlled by a plurality of keys to initiate a rotation 01 a printing drum to selectively stop the rotation oi said drum.

Another object is the provision novel means to release the depressed keys.

Another object oi the invention is the provision oi novel means operated when the drum is stopped to effect a printing operation.

The instant inventionis adapted to be applied to a recorder of the type disclosed in U. 8. Patent No. 522,784 issued July 10, 1894, to John Dey. In known recorders oi this type it has been necessary ior the operator to rotate a iever'to select a position, and then depress to eflect a recording. The present invention contemplates the provision oi an individual key ior each empl yed and automatlc mechanism responsive to the depression oi said keys ior selectively recording the employees time of arrival and departure.

Other objects of the invention will be pointed out in the ioilowing description and claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which disclose. by way 0! example, the principle oi the invention and the best mode, which has been contemplated, oi applying that principle.

In the drawings:

Fig. i is a iront elevation of the recorder.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken approximately along the line 2-2 oi Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a detail view of two of the keys in their normal position.

Fig. 4 is a detail view of the same two keys. one oi. them now being in the depressed positlon.

Fig. 5 is a detail view showing the means for latching the keys in their depressed position.

Fig. 6 illustrates the means for locking the keys against depression.

Fig. 7 is a detail sectional view oi the drum control arm taken approximately along line 1-1 oi Fig. 2.

Fig. 8 is a detail view oi the mechanism ior operating the print magnet contacts.

Fig. 9 is a detail view oi a part oi the mechanism for locking the keys against depression during the minute advance of the typewheels.

Fig. 10 is a schematic circuit diflram. In accordance with a preferred embodiment oi the invention as shown in the drawings. the mechanism is enclosed in a casing 2| mounted on a base 22. A drum 2! (Fig. 2), upon which is carried the record sheet 24, is mounted on a hollow shalt II journaled in irames It and 21 which aresecuredtothebasefl. Thedrumflisrotated by a motor It mounted on the base 22. themotordrtvingashaitl! byabeltlland suitable pulleys. A worm gear ti on the shaft 2! meshes with a gear I! irictionally carried between plates 88 and N secured to an enlarged portion oi a hub I test on the hollow shait It. Aepring 3t pressestheplateflagainst the gear I! and the gear 32 against the plate 83. Thus the rotation oi gear I! by the motor I. irictiomlly drives the drum It.

The rotation oi the drum 2! is initiated and controlled by keys 31 oi which III are provided in this illustrative embodiment oi the invention. It is to be imderstood that a greater or lesser number of 1:05 may be provided depending upon requirements.

The keys I! are slidably mounted in a circular member 38 secured to the front oi the casing II. Secured to this member is an annular bracket ll supporting a ring 4. against the periphery of which the inner ends of the keys 31 are pressed by springs ll. Each of the keys 31 carries a projection 42 which, upon depression of a key. latches over the ring ll to retain the key in its depressed position (Fig. 5)

Depression oi any one oi the keys 31 operates mechanism which energizes the motor a to retatethedrumil. Looselymountedonastudlt (Figs. 1 and 2) projecting from the bracket SI is adiscllhavinganoiisetportion cooperating with the inner ends oi the keys. Upon depression orakey ".acamsuriaceil on thekeythenengagestheportionfloithediscflandrocks saiddiscclockwiseasviewedmlig. 1. Atthis movementarollerlicarriedbybutinsulated from the ring ll engasu contacts It and I (see also Fig. 10) completing a circuit from the battery ll, contacts II and Il, motor 28 back to battery II. The motor thus energised rotates the drumflinacounterclockwlsedireetionmmii untilarrmdbytheinnerendoiadepressed key 81 by the iollowing described mechanism:

Integralwiththehubfl (Fig.2) isanarmii which pivotally carries an arm 61. The end of the arm it is bifurcated and cooperates with a projection I. on the arm 51. A spring It holds the projection it against the left-hand iork oi thearmit asviewedinl lg. 7. Asthearmis rotates counterclockwise (see also Fig. 8) the free end oithearml'l strikesthe endoiadepressed key II, the arm ll continuing its travel soastorockthearml'l clockwiseaboutitspivot until the rkht-hand fork of arm It strikes the projection I. thus arresting the arm II and drum it in the position selected by the particular key I! depressed.

' Clockwise movement of the arm 51 closes a pair of contacts 66 establishing a circuit from the battery 55, a brush 6|, a conducting ring 62 which is carried by but insulated from the arm 56, contacts 66, a conducting ring 63, a brush 64, print magnet 65, and back to the battery 55. The brushes H and 64 are mounted on the frame 26. This energizes print magnet 65 to take an impression from .printing wheels 66 on the record sheet 24, the printing wheels being operated by any suitable clock mechanism in a well known manner to be described briefly hereinafter.

As soon as the print is made it is desired to release the key which controlled the stopping of the drum 26. This is effected under the control of the print magnet 65. Enersization of this magnet closes contacts 66 (Figs. 2 and 10) establishing a circuit from battery 55, a solenoid 61, contacts 66 back to the battery. Referring now to Fig. 2, the solenoid 61 is mounted on the frame 21 and itsvarmature 66 is carried on a rod 66 extending through the hollow shaft 25. At its opposite end the rod 66 cooperates with a bell crank 16, the other arm of which projects into a slide 1| mounted in brackets 12 secured to the arm 56.

When energized the solenoid 61 attracts its armature 66 thrusting the rod 66 to the left as viewed in Fig. 2. This rocks the bell crank 16 clockwise and thrusts the slide 1| radially outward. When the arm 56 was stopped by the depressed key, the outer end of the slide 1| came to rest directly in line with the inner end of the key, and thus the outward movement of the slide disengages the projection 42 from the ring 46 (see Figs. 5 and '7). whereupon the spring 4i returns the key to its normal position.

If no other key is depressed the arm 56 and the drum 26 remain in the position to which they were adjusted since the key has been returned to normal so as to permit a spring 16 (Fig. l) to restore the disc 44-45, moving it ina counterclockwise direction so as to remove the roller 52 from its operated position between the contacts 56-54. The resultant opening of contacts 56-54 breaks the circuit to the motor 26, Assume that a plurality of keys 61 are depressed, for instance, key numbers 8, 16, 1'7, 40, and 80, and that the last key registered was No. 5. The arm 56 and drum 26 will first go to the "6" position and print the time as described above. The 5 key will be released and returned to normal; however, as long as another keyis depressed the disc 44-45 remains out of normal position thus maintaining themotor 26 energized. The motor therefore does not stop but moves the drum 26 and arm 56 successively to each position represented by a depressed key stopping the drum and printing the time at each station until the last depressed key has been restored to undepressed position whereupon, as set forth above. the disc 44--45 is restored stopping the motor.

It is to be pointed out that the recording does not occur in the same sequence in which the keys were depressed but in their numeric sequence as the drum 26 and its control arm are selectively rotated in a clockwise direction. The keys may be depressed in rapid sequence by workmen upon their arrival or departure and the recording mechanism then automatically proceeds to make the proper time records. The delay and inconvenience in the manual operation of the dial in the dial recorders familiar in the art is thus eliminated. In addition, it has in common with prior dial recorders the advantages over card operated 75 recorders in that the latter require a certain amount of time for removal of a card from a of the card to obtain the the card from the printing osition and replacing it in its proper position in the card rack. Though the time saving for each recording operation is rather inappreciable, it does accumulate to the extent of becoming an important advantage in handling long lines of workmen passing the clock during the more predominant periods of arrival and departure.

As each key is depressed, a contact 14 thereon wipes by a conductor ring 15 mounted on but insulated from the bracket 66 and common to all of the contacts 14, making a momentary contact of sufllcient duration to energize a magnet 16. Energlzation of magnet 16 is arranged to cause one tap on the single stroke bell 11. No connection is made between contact 14 and ring 15 when the key is restored for the reason that the slide II card rack, insertion print, withdrawal of has moved the inner end of the key radially outwardly a distance suillcient to cause the contact 14 to clear the ring 15 as the key is restored (see I Fig. 5 dotted line position of key).

The typewheels 66 (Fig. 2) are advanced by a clock 16 suitably mounted in the bracket 66. A shaft 16, driven by the clock mechanism. extends upwardly therefrom and at its upper end is provided with a beveled gear 66. This gear meshes with a beveled gear 66 on a horizontal shaft 61. Between the frames 26 and 21 the shaft 61 is square and slidably carries a pinion 66 meshing with a gear 66 which advances the printing wheels 66. Structure of this nature is old in the art and further description is therefore deemed unnecessary.

The printing mechanism is enclosed in a casing 66 and is slidably mounted on two rods 6| extending between the frames 26 and 21. The entire printing unit may thus be shifted laterally, as from front to back of the drum 26, according to various columns on the record sheet in order to record in these columns the in" and "out" time of each of the various employees. The device for shifting the printing mechanism does not form a part of the instant invention and for this reason is not disclosed. One of several well known devices may be utilized for this purpose and may be manually operated or automatically controlled in accordance with time.

Printing is effected by the magnet acting through a lever 62 which also closes the previously mentioned contacts 66. Operation of the lever 62 drives the typewheels against the drum 26 making an impression on the record sheet 24 by means of an ink ribbon 66. The ink ribbon is wound and unwound from spools 64 and 65 by any suitable ribbon feeding and reversing mechanism. The spools 64 and 65 are mounted in brackets 66 and 61 respectively which are secured to the frames 26 and 21.

In order to prevent depression of any key during the time the clock advances the typewheels 66, a solenoid 66 (Figs. 1, 2, and 10) is provided, which is energized during the time the typewheels are being advanced by a cam 66 on the seconds arbor of the clock. The cam 66 thus receives one rotation each minute closing contacts I66 and energizing the solenoid 66 Just before the clock shifts the printing wheels to the next minute. The contacts I66 are broken immediately after the typewheels have been advanced.

The armature III of the solenoid 66 is provided with teeth I62 which mesh with a pinion I66 on a shaft I which, at its opposite end carries a pinion It! meshing with teeth in a ring I. This ring is mounted to oscillate under the influence of the solenoid ll. When energised the solenoid it attracts its armature ill rotating the pinion J03, shaft I and pinion illl counterclockwise as viewed in Fig. 1, thus rotating the ring iti also in a counterclockwise direction. The ring I06 is provided with a series of notches ill displaced around its periphery. Each of the notches I01 is adapted, when said ring is shifted by the solenoid 90, to cooperate with corresponding projections I on an adjacent ring ill. The ring ill! does not rotate but is slidably mounted on a series of stud Ill projecting from the outer flange of the bracket 8! and the projections I are pressed against the ring I by springs ill. When, as set forth above, the ring II! is rotated the notches lll'l come into alignment with the projections iill permitting the springs Ill to move the ring I08 bodily toward the front of the machine, or toward the left as viewed in Figure 2.

Pivotally supported on brackets III adjacent each key 3'! is a lever Ill provided with a projecting arm I it which is normally pressed against the ring I" by a spring 5. When the ring ll! moves to the left the springs 5 rock the levers H3 counterclockwise (Fig. 6) to position the ends of said levers in the paths of projections iii on the keys 3'! thus preventing depression of any of the keys during the time the typewheels ii are being advanc When the contacts llll are opened so as to deenergize solenoid 98, a spring (not shown) restores the ring I to normal, camming the ring it! toward the right (Fig. 2). At this movement of the ring I" engages the arms Ill on levers III rocking said levers out of the paths of the projections III on the keys 31 thus freeing the keys for depression.

While there has been shown and described and pointed out thefundamental novel features of the invention as applied to a single modification it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the device illustrated and in its operation may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a workmans time recorder, the combination of a clock controlled printing means, a rotatable drum to support a record material. a selector arm rotatable with the drum, a plurality of keys to selectively arrest the selector arm and drum? and means controlled by the selector arm to effect printing when said arm is arrested.

2. In a workmans time recorder, the combination of a clock controlled printing means, a drum to support a record material, a selector arm, said arm and drum being rotatable in unison, depressible keys to selectively arrest the arm and drum. means integral with the selector arm and operated when said arm is arrested by a depressed key to effect printing, and means operated by the print effecting means to release the depressed key.

3. In a workmans time recorder, the combination of a clock controlled printing mechanism, a drum and a selector arm associated therewith,

power means to frictionally drive the drum,

depreesible keys to selectively arrest the drum.-

means on the arm eflective when said arm is arrested by a depressed key to eflect printing, and other means on said arm controlled by'the printing means to release the depressed key.

4. In a workmans time recorder, the combination of a printing drum, a selector arm associated with the drum, power means to frictionally drive the drum, depressible keys to selectively stop the drum, key release means controlled by the selector arm, and means common to all of the keys to energize the power means and to maintain said power means energized until all of the depressed keys are released.

5. In a workman's time recorder, the combination of printing mechanism, a printing drum, a selector arm associated with the drum, power means to frictionally drive the drum and the selector arm, a plurality of keys each operable to stop the drum in a different position, means carried by the selector arm to control the printing means, means operated under control of the printing mechanism at each of the arrested positions of the drum to release the operated key which stopped the drum at said position, and a member responsive to all of the operated keys to energize the power means and to maintain said power means energized until all of said operated keys are released.

6. In a workman's time recorder, the combination of a printing mechanism, a printing drum, a selector arm associated with the drum, means to frictionally drive the drum, a plurality of operable keys to successively stop the drum, and means operated when the drum is stopped by an operated key to effect an operation of the printing mechanism.

7. In a workmans time recorder, the combination of a printing mechanism, a printing drum, a selector arm associated with the drum, means to rotate the drum and the selector arm, a plurality of depressible keys to successively stop the selector arm and the drum, means operated when the arm is stopped by a key to eiIect an operation of the printing mechanism, and means operated under the control of the printing mechanism to release the depressed key.

8. In a workman's time recorder, the combination of a printing mechanism, a printing drum. means to drive the drum, a plurality of depressible keys to successively stop the drumin different positions, means commonly actuated by depression of any one or a number of said keys to energize the drive means and to maintain the drive means energized until all of the depressed keys are released, means operated as the drum is successively stopped at a different position by each depressed key to eflect an operation of the printing mechanism, and electromagnetic means energized under the control of the printing means to release the depressed key for said drum position.

9. In a workmans time recorder, the combination of a printing mechanism, a rotatable plinting drum, a plurality of keys individually operable to selectively control the position of the drum, means operated as the drum arrives at each position selected by an operated key to efl'ect an operation of the printing mechanism, and key release means rotatable with the drum and operated by the printing means to release the operated key for said drum position.

ERNEST A. FAILER. 

